As a restaurant owner in the digital age, it pays to keep up with current technology—literally. Whether that means investing in advanced, energy-efficient Manitowoc ice machines, engaging with your customers on social media, or creating a mobile-friendly version of your restaurant’s website, staying on top of the newest technology for business can save you time and money, and in some cases can even help turn a profit! One such way the restaurant business has evolved to take advantage of apps available for mobile devices. This week, ShortOrder has compiled a short list of apps from which your restaurant could benefit.

Manitowoc Ice Machines’ Resource Library

At the beginning of April, Manitowoc Foodservice (of the much-lauded Manitowoc ice machines) announced a new app designed to help you better operate your Manitowoc ice machines. The app allows users to access important Manitowoc ice machines’ documents all in one place. Called the “Resource Library” app, it offers mobile viewing of product specification sheets, operations manuals, literature, CAD symbols, and more. The app is currently only available for the iPhone and iPad, but Manitowoc is currently developing the app for the Android as well.

Ambur – Point of Sale (POS)

Ambur was built by a team of former restaurant owners and employees, and is meant to increase a restaurant’s efficiency when it comes to ordering, reporting, running payroll, and more. Reviewers agree that Ambur is reasonably-priced, boasts excellent support and customer service, and has major potential to streamline a restaurant’s day-to-day operations.

National Restaurant Association Show 2013 App

If you are planning on attending the NRA Show 2013 between May 18th and 21st, this app is a must. It allows you to view the show’s events and speakers, create your own schedule, see a list of the exhibitors, connect with the NRA via social media, access maps, and more. Among this year’s attendees are various international buyers; Starbucks’ Chairman, President, and CEO Howard Schultz; and Anthony Bourdain.

ChowNow

ChowNow lets customers view a restaurant’s menu items, customize an order, and check out right on their mobile device. ChowNow incorporates your restaurant’s logo into the app’s easy-to-use interface, allows you to send push notifications to customers with the app, and lets customers access contact information, hours, and location for your restaurant. ChowNow is ideal for restaurants targeting busy professionals who need a way to order meals or large orders at their convenience and without wait time in the actual restaurant.

ShiftPlanning

Designed to make employee scheduling easier, ShiftPlanning is an app that lets you create, edit, and manage time clocking, payroll, HR, and schedules. You can do it from pretty much anywhere, since ShiftPlanning is available for iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, and WAP devices.

More News and Manitowoc Ice Machines

Want to know about the advantages that Manitowoc ice machines could give your business? Read more about it here and here. For more news about the restaurant business, restaurant equipment, Manitowoc ice machines, and beyond, visit ShortOrder on Twitter and Facebook.  Tweet or write on our wall and tell us: which apps do you use in your restaurant?

ShortOrder knows that ice machines are vital to your business. Foodservice operations need ice machines for any number of purposes day in and day out, most often requiring ice in large volumes all day, throughout the week. This can result in high costs, not only in terms of ice machine wear, but in energy, as well. We have already touted the benefits of Manitowoc ice machines and Scotsman ice machines, and we’d like to share some more tips with you on how to stay green and save money when it comes to operating your ice machines.

1.  Make sure that your ice machine is of the proper capacity for you restaurant. An ice machine that produces too much or too little ice for your needs can be a big waste of energy.

2.  Invest in an air-cooled ice machine. Air-cooled ice machines use less energy and less water than their water-cooled counterparts.

3.  Close your ice machine’s lid. Keeping the lid open for longer than is necessary makes the ice machine work harder to remain at the correct temperature, causing a further loss of energy. Make sure your employees know to close the ice machine’s lid promptly after every use.

4.  Clean your ice machine regularly. This includes changing out the water filter according to the manufacturer’s directions. Cleaning ice machines on a regular basis allows the machines to remain in proper working order to operate smoothly.

5.  Maintain your ice machine regularly to ensure that all components function correctly. Regular maintenance will prevent the ice machine from breaking down later, leading to not only major repair costs, but to disruption of your business.

For more tips about ice machines and other quality restaurant equipment, keep reading our blog. You can also visit us on Twitter and Facebook for ShortOrder updates, news, and more.

Manitowoc ice machines come in all shapes and sizes. You already know about the many different types of ice that Manitowoc ice machines can make, and that Manitowoc ice machines are easy to maintain… but did you know that they have a secret, energy-saving weapon? Manitowoc ice machines that are air-cooled could be the best restaurant equipment decision you make when it comes to ice.

About Air-Cooled Ice Machines

So what is an air-cooled ice machine? It’s pretty simple: air-cooled ice machines use a fan to reduce the heat generated by the mechanical refrigeration components inside. The alternative is a water-cooled ice machine, which circulates cool water around the components via pipes to keep the inside cool. The difference between the two, however, comes in the operational costs. Air-cooled ice machines use less energy and water than their water-cooled counterparts, since many water-cooled ice makers use more water to cool the system itself than to actually make ice. Thus, the cost of operation of air-cooled ice machines is lower, and they are more efficient for both day-to-day and long-term use. You could ultimately save quite a bit on your utility bills.

Air-Cooled Indigo Manitowoc Ice Machines

Manitowoc’s Indigo Series line of commercial ice machines, for example, contains some great air-cooled Manitowoc ice machines. The Manitowoc Ice Machine ID-0322A/B-320/115-1, for example, is an Energy Star certified machine that will get the job done with efficiency and ease. It monitors the machine’s critical systems, has an easy-read interface, and is fully programmable so that you can conveniently choose how much ice to make and when to make it. Never worry about losing ice production capabilities on a busy Friday night with Manitowoc ice machines in the kitchen. Manitowoc technology is steadily improving to keep commercial ice makers clean, efficient, safe, and energy-saving.

More Manitowoc Ice Machines and Restaurant Equipment

To see more ice machines, visit ShortOrder.com and find the one that fits your kitchen’s needs best.

Think all ice is the same? Think again. You would be unwise to put nuggets in a cocktail or cubes in a frozen display. ShortOrder carries Manitowoc ice machines for four basic different types of ice: dice sized cubes, half dice sized cubes, flake ice, and nugget ice. The fact is, different types of ice have very different uses. How should you use each type of ice? Let ShortOrder enlighten you with a tour of Manitowoc ice machines and their many uses.

Dice Sized Cubes

Cubed ice is largely an all-purpose ice. It is used most for single servings of drinks like carbonated beverages, juices, and water. It is also a main component in cocktails and mocktails, both shaken and stirred. These hard, clear ice cubes are best for uses that need slow melting and quick production.

Half Dice Sized Cubes

These little cubes melt more quickly than their full-size counterparts, but are just as effective and refreshing in drinks of all kinds.

Flake Ice

Flake ice has many uses, some of which actually go beyond the restaurant world. In the cases of culinary use, they are often best for retail ice displays, as of cold beverages, and in blended beverages like smoothies, blended cocktails, and the perennially-popular slushie. Flake ice is actually a slow-melting ice. Outside of kitchens and bars, it can used in medical settings as well.

Nugget Ice

Nugget ice is, in a word, crunchable. It is a soft, crushed ice that is easy to chew but whose pieces hard enough to serve without needing to hand-scoop the ice. Nugget ice, like flake ice, can also be put to therapeutic use.

About Manitowoc Ice Machines

Regardless of the type of ice they make, all Manitowoc ice machines are made with strong, quality materials, so they stand up to day-to-day use and abuse in a hectic kitchen. That’s right; Manitowoc ice machines are made to weather the culinary storm. The best ice machines are also efficient. Fortunately, efficiency is one of the things that Manitowoc ice machines do best. Different models support different rates of ice production per 24 hours, depending on your need. Browse ShortOrder’s selection of Manitowoc ice machines today and decide what types of ice your business needs, or call us if you have questions at (800) 211-0282.

This week, join ShortOrder and fill up your ice machines to learn about the favorite cocktails of famous American authors. Many writers had a cocktail they were most famous for enjoying; among them were Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Edna St. Vincent Millay, John Steinbeck, and the three gentlemen below. We ask you drink responsibly, and try out these recipes in your restaurant with your own ice machines.

Gin Rickey – F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the most famous writers and expatriates of the Roaring Twenties, is responsible for the novels The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and a number of short stories. Gin was a popular spirit in the 1920s, and so Fitzgerald’s favorite drink, the Gin Rickey, is an entirely appropriate choice. A Rickey may also, however, be made with rum or scotch. It consists of gin, lime juice, and club soda, garnished with a lime wheel, and served over an ice machine’s cubed ice.

Mojito – Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway, author of such American classics as The Sun Also Rises, The Old Man and the Sea, and For Whom the Bell Tolls, thoroughly enjoyed the mojito. The drink was invented at a Cuban bar in Havana called La Bodeguita del Medio, which Hemingway frequented while he lived there in the 1940s and 1950s. The mojito is actually derived from the Rickey, and consists of fresh mint, lime juice, sugar or simple syrup, white rum, and a wedge of lime. The rim of the glass may be sugared, and the drink is served “on the rocks” with cubed ice (as from ice machines).

Margarita – Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac was a poet and a novelist of the Beat Generation, most famous for his novel On the Road, and allegedly adopted the margarita as a favorite drink during one of his trips to Mexico. Margaritas take many forms, but the classic margarita is usually made with tequila, lime juice, and a sweetener such as triple sec. Frozen margaritas are popular versions, and are made with pureed ice. Machines specifically for frozen margaritas are very popular, but smaller servings are made in blenders. To add a twist to a margarita, a number of flavors can be added, such as fruit juice (for a strawberry margarita, for example), flavored syrups, or other spirits, such as schnapps or Grand Marnier. Salt or sugar the rim, or leave it plain.

More about Ice Machines

Stay tuned for more about ice machines and their uses from ShortOrder! Meanwhile, read about the difference between shaken and stirred cocktails, our favorite Manitowoc ice machines, and more here on the ShortOrder blog.

Ice machines, while useful for every restaurant, can be particularly useful for a restaurant with special drinks on its menu. Ice machines allow a restaurant to have fresh ice available in large quantities at any time. But how to prepare your drinks using an ice machine’s ice? James Bond, the famous fictional British Secret Service agent, is known for preferring his martinis prepared “shaken, not stirred”. What is the difference between shaken and stirred? There has been much debate among cocktail connoisseurs about whether shaking or stirring is the better method, and in what case each ought to be utilized.

Shaken Drinks

A drink that is “shaken” is made using an ice machine’s fresh ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. About 5 or 6 ice cubes should be used per individual drink. Shaking a drink for about 10-15 seconds (longer is acceptable, depending on the beverage’s components) quickly chills it while aerating the drink. It is obviously works faster than stirring a drink, but can also dilute it.

Stirred Drinks

A drink that is “stirred” is made just the way it sounds—it is mixed with an ice machine’s ice in a glass. A stirred drink takes longer to chill, and in fact could take several minutes to achieve the temperature that shaking does in seconds. However, stirring allows a drink to remain less diluted, keeping its texture and appearance fairly unaltered.

Mocktails

Are you looking for a new drink to add to your menu? Consider the mocktail. A “mocktail” is a drink made by mixing two or more non-alcoholic beverages. Types of mocktails may include versions of an actual cocktail modified to eliminate the alcoholic components (called a “virgin” drink), or a drink unto itself, with no alcoholic counterpart. The mocktail is a friend to all, as it pleases all ages and can be drunk at any time of day. Ice from ice machines will help you add the finishing touches to delicious mocktails. We recommend that you try Manitowoc ice machines or Scotsman ice machines for brands that will deliver high-quality results. Below are two clever mocktails that will guarantee you get plenty of use out of your ice machines.

Fruit Punch – Shaken

This drink bears no resemblance to your average packet of cherry Kool-Aid. A Fruit Punch is made with orange juice, mango juice, pineapple juice, grenadine syrup, and fresh cream. All ingredients should be added to a cocktail shaker (already equipped with an ice machine’s ice to chill the drink), and shaken well. It is then strained into a highball glass, and served most often with a slice of pineapple and a cherry as garnishes.

Virgin Mary – Stirred

A Virgin Mary is, of course, a non-alcoholic version of a Bloody Mary. This drink is often served as a breakfast or brunch menu item, and is a great way to mix up your beverage choices at the beginning of the day. Use a mixing glass with ice from your ice machines to stir the ingredients together, then pour into a roly poly glass and garnish with a stick of celery, mint leaves, or a lemon wedge.

Manitowoc, a city in eastern Wisconsin on Lake Michigan, gets its name from the Native American word meaning home of the Great Spirit. And it is with great spirit that the people that manufacture Manitowoc Ice Machines have embraced cutting edge technology and conservation since their beginnings in 1964. And with the Indigo series, Manitowoc Ice Machines now include intelligent diagnostics to provide more reliable and energy efficient monitoring, as well as streamlined cleaning, better ice quality and improved food safety.

With four pages featuring Manitowoc Ice Machines, our website offers a variety of models of Manitowoc Ice Machines, each with an excellent rating. One Editor’s Choice award goes to the Indigo™Manitowoc Ice Machine ID-0322A/208/1. With intelligent diagnostics, a space-saving design, programmable ice production, and a Duratech™ stainless, fingerprint-resistant finish, this model has it all and still makes about 350 lbs of ice per day. For those looking for more volume, the Manitowoc Ice Machine ID-1402A/B-970/208/1 will definitely satisfy, producing a hefty 1500 pounds of ice per day. You can’t go wrong no matter what model you choose, because of the 107 Manitowoc Ice Machines we offer, every single one has a rating of 4 stars or higher. Now that’s quality!

It feels great to purchase a high-quality piece of restaurant equipment from a company that has a history of performance and quality. True to its name, Manitowoc Ice Machines offer more than just quality equipment. They offer peace of mind and a great spirit of stewardship to the environment and to businesses like yours. At Short Order, we only work with companies we know will deliver quality, and Manitowoc is one of those companies. With Manitowoc Ice Machines, you know you are getting a great product from a great company. And that should put you in very good spirits!

Is there anything better looking than an ice machine full of fresh cold ice when the customers are lining up outside your door? They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Well, when the beholder is the owner of a successful restaurant like yours, sometimes the “sight for sore eyes” takes the boxy shape of a stainless steel machine designed to make ice–and lots of it. Just check out this super sexy product video from Manitowoc Ice Machines and you’ll know what we’re talking about.

Our website offers no less than four pages of Manitowoc Ice Machines, featuring a variety of models with just about every combination of features possible, each with an excellent rating. Topping this list and earning our Editor’s Choice award, is the Indigo™Manitowoc Ice Machine ID-0322A/208/1. With this stunning model, you get an amazing space-saving design, intelligent diagnostics, programmable ice production, and a Duratech™ stainless finish that resists fingerprints and dirt. Who wouldn’t want brains, beauty and durability all in one package? And this little wonder still produces up to 350 lbs of ice each day. But if you are looking for volume, you’ll bat your eyes at the Manitowoc Ice Machine ID-1402A/B-970/208/1, which produces a respectable 1500 pounds of ice per day and includes all the same great features that are expected in high quality Manitowoc Ice Machines.

When it comes to restaurant equipment, there may be nothing more important than a reliable ice maker. Just imagine serving your customers water, sodas or beer at room temperature. You’d soon become a laughing stock. Don’t wait until your old ice maker breaks down and you have to open on bag after sloppy bag of ice while you wait for the mechanic to diagnose and finally fix the problem. Just take a look at our Manitowoc Ice Machines product line, and you’re sure to find the perfect match.

The restaurant business is a bigger challenge than anyone on the outside will ever know. Sure, there are always deadlines in business. But try being up against the nightly deadline called hunger. Not just the hunger of one patron, but all of them—all the time. And then when you consider how, in this day and age, just one complaint can ruin a business, reliable performance becomes an imperative. So when your restaurant equipment breaks down, you have no choice but to replace it—and fast. You do your research, you find the perfect equipment at the right price, and then, just when you thought you were home free, shipping costs are added in, and all of a sudden, you’re way over budget.

We’ve all been there, right? Who can afford the waste of time? That’s why, at Short Order, we have something radical we call, “Free Shipping.” Maybe you’ve heard of it? OK, so free shipping is not exactly a cutting edge idea. But when we thought about what would make a difference for you, the one on the hot seat, free shipping came to mind. You see, with Short Order, what you see is what you get. We have no intention of cashing in on your need for a quick solution, because we know how hard it is to run a business, and if we do our job, yours becomes just a little bit easier.

Whether you’re buying Frymaster Fryers or Manitowoc Ice Machines, you know that you’re getting quality at a price that makes sense. Nothing comes for free. Shipping costs, however, are some companies’ approach to increasing the bottom line. That’s just not how we do it. So the next time you need a char broilers or a carving station, with great quality and free shipping, you can rest assured we have your back.  And there’s nothing hiding behind ours.

It is only spring and an unexpected heat wave is seizing your town with an unheard of fiery grip. The news media is touting it as “unheralded” and “record breaking.” As luck would have it all the other restaurant equipment has been working just fine, and now that blasted ice machine is on the fritz again. No amount of MacGyver-like magic seems to fix it this time, and your employees are ferrying in half melted bags of ice by the truckload. And although you might be wearing a parka while reading this, it is never too late to replace that dinosaur of an ice machine, or buy a new one that lasts. One of the more popular brands to consider is our line of Manitowoc Ice Machines.

You swore to yourself that before summer you would look into purchasing a new ice machine for your establishment. With Manitowoc Ice Machines, you don’t need to worry about circuitry failures or broken parts. With Manitowoc, you pretty much just set it and forget it, heat wave or ice storm. When patrons come in to your place all clamoring for something cold and refreshing you will be able to give them a frosty cold beverage every time. From dice-sized ice production and nugget ice makers to small under-counter ice cubers and the Manitowoc Ice Machine ID-1402A/B-970/208/1 –which produces a whopping 1500 pounds of ice in 24 hours – Manitowoc has ice covered.

Because you never know when subpar restaurant equipment might take the week off, or when freakish and unseasonable weather might strike, its best to be prepared. When it comes to ice, Manitowoc Ice Machines will keep you and your beverages looking and feeling very cool.